Are there symptom differences in patients with coronary artery disease presenting to the ED ultimately diagnosed with or without ACS?

Objectives: Symptoms are compared among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) admitted to the emergency department with or without acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Sex and age are also assessed. Methods: A secondary analysis from the PROMOTION (Patient Response tO Myocardial Infarction fOllowing a Teaching Intervention Offered by Nurses) trial, an multicenter randomized controlled trial, was conducted. Results: Of 3522 patients with CAD, at 2 years, 565 (16%) presented to the emergency department, 234 (41%) with non-ACS and 331 (59%) with ACS. Shortness of breath (33% vs 25%, P =.028) or dizziness (11% vs 3%, P =.001) were more common in non-ACS. Chest pain (65% vs 77%, P =.002) or arm pain (9% vs 21%, P =.001) were more common in ACS. In men without ACS, dizziness was more common (11% vs 2%; P =.001). Men with ACS were more likely to have chest pain (78% vs 64%; P =.003); both men and women with ACS more often had arm pain (men, 19% vs 10% [P =.019]; women, 26% vs 13% [P =.023]). In multivariate analysis, patients with shortness of breath (odds ratio [OR], 0.617 [confidence interval [CI], 0.410-0.929]; P =.021) or dizziness (OR,.0311 [CI, 0.136-0.708]; P =.005) were more likely to have non-ACS. Patients with prior percutaneous coronary intervention (OR, 1.592 [CI, 1.087-2.332]; P =.017), chest pain (OR, 1.579 [CI, 1.051-2.375]; P =.028), or arm pain (OR, 1.751 [CI, 1.013-3.025]; P <.042) were more likely to have ACS. Conclusions: In patients with CAD, shortness of breath and dizziness are more common in non-ACS, whereas prior percutaneous coronary intervention and chest or arm pain are important factors to include during ACS triage.